Description

Legendary.

We aren't exactly sure what the word Deore originally meant, but everyone associated with mountain biking knows what it means now. It means quality. From the very first component, Deore XT has been Shimano's workhorse gruppo. Nothing has changed. Deore XT isn't Shimano's lightest. Nor is it Shimano's most expensive. It is, however, Shimano's best all-around component group, and its reputation as the toughest in Shimano's lineup without significant weight sacrifices has stood the test of time. For the mountain biker about to take the leap into the 650B category of bikes, we can't think of a better wheelset on which to base that leap than the Shimano Deore XT WH-M785 27.5-inch wheelset.

Starting from the inside out, Shimano uses its Deore XT hubs for the WH-M785's. The hubs feature sealed bearings for virtually maintenance-free operation in any riding conditions. They are 110x15mm QR up front and 146x12mm QR in the rear. The hubs are Center Lock-compatible. Shimano uses butted (2.0-1.5-2.0) round straight-pull spokes. The rims, optimized for durability and light weight, are 19mm deep and 23.4mm wide. Shimano recommends tire widths of 1.5 to 2.25 inches. The rims are, of course, UST-compatible.

The Shimano Deore XT WH-M785 27.5 Wheelset is available in two configurations. Both come with a 15mm thru-axle front hub and you have the choice of 10x135mm quick-release or 12x142mm thru-axle rear wheels.

Do you use rim tape and sealant for xt...

The rims are UST certified, so if pair with a UST tire, they wouldn't need sealant. Not running sealant kind of defeats the puncture resistance advantage of running tubeless, so I would personally still use sealant with both a UST and a non UST or tubeless ready tire. The rim does not need a rim strip, but if using sealant, it's never a bad idea to have a layer of Stans tape down.